Morrison slams 'shabby' Senate process

Treasurer Scott Morrison says the government will not accept "cobbled together" amendments to multinational tax avoidance laws.

Treasurer Scott Morrison has slammed "flip-flopping" senators for frustrating government laws cracking down on multinational tax dodgers.

The upper house on Wednesday passed legislation tightening rules on profit-shifting global entities but with extra changes to make some Australian companies publish tax information.

"This is a very shabby and irresponsible way to deal with a serious issue," Mr Morrison told the lower house on Thursday.

Labor and the Greens joined crossbenchers to push the changes through the Senate, reversing measures in a previous bill which cleared parliament last month after confusion in the chamber.

It requires private local firms earning more than $100 million a year to reveal their tax details.

But the treasurer was having none of it, saying the government wouldn't support "cobbled together" changes made on a whim.

"This flip-flopping may be acceptable to supporters of these amendments but it's not how the Turnbull government does business."

Mr Morrison said the government was willing to consider the issues raised by the proposed changes, such as who might be affected and unintended consequences.

Labor urged the government to move on and accept that parliament had passed its multinational tax avoidance crackdown.

"If you want to create a dispute between (parliament's) houses, that's your call," shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said.

The government used its numbers in the House of Representatives to reject the Senate's amendments.


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Source: AAP


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